Abstract
In this study, Fe3O4 and Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method and sol–gel method respectively. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by X-ray diffraction [XRD] and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The obtained results have shown the nanocrystalline phase of obtained Fe3O4 and Co3O4 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the Fe3O4 and Co3O4 nanoparticles were used as seed layer for the fabrication of well-aligned ZnO nanorods on the gold coated glass substrate by aqueous chemical growth method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy [HRTEM], as well as XRD and energy dispersive X-ray techniques were used for the structural characterisation of synthesised ZnO nanorods. This study has explored highly dense, uniform, well-aligned growth pattern along 0001 direction and good crystal quality of the prepared ZnO nanorods. ZnO nanorods are only composed of Zn and O atoms. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used for the chemical analysis of fabricated ZnO nanorods. In addition, the structural characterisation and the chemical composition study and the optical investigation were carried out for the fabricated ZnO nanorods and the photoluminescence [PL] spectrum have shown strong ultraviolet (UV) peak at 381nm for Fe3O4 nanoparticles seeded ZnO nanorods and the PL spectrum for ZnO nanorods grown with the seed layer of Co3O4 nanoparticles has shown a UV peak at 382nm. The green emission and orange/red peaks were also observed for ZnO nanorods grown with both the seed layers. This study has indicated the fabrication of well aligned ZnO nanorods using the one inorganic nanomaterial on other inorganic nanomaterial due to their similar chemistry.
► This study describe the new trend of seed layer towards the growth of ZnO nanorods. ► ZnO nanorods are fabricated using seed layer of Fe3O4 and Co3O4 nanoparticles. ► Nanoparticles behaved very well as seed layer for well align ZnO nanorods. ► ZnO nanorods exhibit good crystal quality and chemical composition. ► ZnO nanorods have shown good photoluminescence properties